Icons of festivity

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photos: Khaled El-Fiqi

TODAY, Muslims celebrate Mulid Al-Nabi, the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Mohamed. A parade is traditionally held by the Sufi sects around the area of the Al-Hussein Mosque, Ferris wheels and swings make their way to the public squares and open spaces near working-class districts and kids compete to see who can go higher.

But once again it is the food that defines the holiday. Hard sugar candies, sweetmeats made of orange and white coconut and sticky slabs of sesame, peanut -- and for the rich pistachio and almond -- brittle have been on display at confection shops of all standards across the nation in preparation for today.

Off a narrow alleyway in Old Cairo, Fatma and Mohamed have been working for weeks decorating sugar dolls (for the girls) and horses (for the boys) that are traditionally bought by families for their children on the occasion.